When “Magic” Valentino Willis of the Harlem Swish Comedy Basketball Team talked to students at Trigg County Middle School Thursday morning, respect for parents, teachers and other school officials and workers were oft-repeated refrains.

He also implored them to treat their fellow students with respect, to stay in school and do their homework and pass their tests. He also told them to stay away from drugs, alcohol and cigarettes, telling the students that he lost one of his friends – Len Bias, who was drafted to the Boston Celtics – to drugs. He said Bias could have been the next LeBron James.

“You are the future, but if you’re on drugs, there is no future,” said Willis. “Some kids have died because of drugs.”

When he asked the students if they were going to do drugs, alcohol or cigarettes, they enthusiastically waved their arms toward the ground and screamed “NO!,” and when he asked them if they were going to respect their parents, teachers, and others, they just as enthusiastically waved their hands in the air and screamed “YES!”

But he also entertained the audience and had some of the students participate in his basketball tricks individually, and later had about 25 students in a circle activity.

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